Different effects of climate change on the population dynamics of insects

Abstract

Climate change affects the pattern of population dynamics of insects in different ways. Global warming not only leads to greater over-winter survival, earlier appearance in spring, an increase in the number of generations in a year, lengthening of the reproductive season, etc., but also affects their biotic associations as a result of changes in interspecific interactions. Changes in the density of insects in response to unusually hot summers provide us with useful indications of the potential effects of global warming. Different insect guilds respond differently to hot summers, which sometimes result in an increase in density and sometimes a decrease. These effects may occur immediately or be delayed by 1 or 2 years. As long as the regime remains unchanged, the affected population can recover sooner or later. Even a single-year change in climate, however, if it allows predators to outbreak, may be strong enough to cause a regime shift. Most insects are susceptible to heat stress between 28 and 32 °C, global warming could have a more profound impact on the population dynamics and biodiversity of arthropods than has previously been predicted.